Will make efforts to restore normal life in disaster-affected areas of Wayanad: Chief Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In his condolence speech in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the state government would make efforts to restore normal life in the disaster-affected areas of Wayanad.

"Numerous lives were lost, and many people went missing in regions like Punchirimattom, Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala. A total of 145 houses were completely destroyed, 170 partially damaged, and 240 houses became uninhabitable. Additionally, 183 houses were washed away. Meppadi alone suffered a minimum loss of Rs 1,200 crore. The government has formed a mission to both prevent future disasters and mitigate their impact," the CM said.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that the state has requested the central government to strengthen research by national agencies on landslide prediction and to establish regional centres for these agencies in Kerala.

Opposition leader VD Satheesan extended full support to the relief efforts in Wayanad. "The relief works in Wayanad should be exemplary. They must be carried out by considering factors like climate change," he said.

Speaker AN Shamseer remarked that the disaster in Meppadi Panchayat was one of the most severe natural calamities in Kerala’s history.

Various party leaders, including P.K. Kunhalikutty, E. Chandrasekharan, Roshy Augustine, Mons Joseph, Mathew T. Thomas, Anoop Jacob, Thomas K. Thomas, Kadanappally Ramachandran, K.B. Ganeshkumar, K.K. Rema, K.P. Mohanan, Ahmed Devarkovil, Antony Raju, Kovoor Kunjumon, Mani C. Kappan, along with Kalpetta MLA T. Siddique and Nadapuram MLA E.K. Vijayan, also expressed their condolences.